Game device



Sept. 23 1924.

L. M. PARKER GAME DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1924 a "m w 1 w r W/ fl 0 a t .A n 1c m J v A 3 6. i i z A fi a 7; H i J l .llfii! 5 W W z m3 7 W 1 Z L A l A vided with a deep Patented dept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES LESLIE MONROE PARKER, OE EVAN'STOL T, ILLINQIS,

GAME nnvrcn.

Application filed February 8, 1924. Serial No. 691,355.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LESLIE Monnon PAR.- Knn, a citizen of the United States, and rosident of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Devices, of which the following is a full, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to a game device intended primarily for use in games in which men or pieces are used to play the game and with which counters are also used for scoring. It has for one object to provide an apparatus which may be used dur ing the playing of the game for retaining the counters and for holding and displaying the men or pieces which the player holds. It has for another object to provide a device which, when the game is not being played, may he used to store and retain both the counters and the men and in which they may be put away for safe keeping and for carry ing. It has for another object :to provide such a game device which may be used during the playing of the game and may be used when the game is not being played for storing the pieces and counters, and which may be readily transported, and with which no enclosing box or container may be used.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, w'herei-n- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a plurality of racks, closed in the storing position and secured together for carrying;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross section through the device, on an enlarged scale, showing the racks in section and the hold ing means partially in elevation and par ti-ally in section;

Figure i is a plan view showing one of the racks opened in the playing position;

Figure 5 is an end elevation similar to the form shown in Figure 1, showing a modified form of the device;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Like parts are designated loy like characters throughout. I

A is a display and storage rack formed of two sections preferably joined together at A Each of the sections is preferably proand comparatively wide trough B which runs the length of the -section and issubdivided by a partition 13-. The trough 13 is closed along its sides. Ad jacent the trough B and running the full length of the section and preferably uninterrupted is an open sided trough C In the form shown in Figures 1 to a inclusive each of the sections is provided adjacent its free end with an upwardly extending projection which preferably takes the form of a nail .or other metallic'niember D, and in its bottom immediately below the nail D it is provided with a depression D Thus when the racks are folded together in the storage position as shown particularly in Figures land 2, the nails D in each rack fit into the depression I) in the rack above, and tend to holl the parts together and prevent separation or spreading of the sec.- tions of the rack.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 in.- clusive each of the sections of the racks is provided on its face-closest the open side 0 with a groove E which is preferably semicircular.

F is a cover plate and shape as the which is the same size folded rack shown in Figure 2 and overlies it as shown in Figures 1 and 3. This cover F providcd in its under side with depressions F into which the nails 1) von the upper rack penetrate. The cover F has located preferably centrally of it a perforation F within which is mounted a metallic plate F This plate may he provided with a spring latch F terminating in the upwardly extending contact point F The lower rack is preferably provided in its bottom with a squared depression Gr, having a pair of lateral grooves .01 depressions G G H is a holding rod adapted to extend upwardly through the entire pile oi' racks and to lie within the grooves E. It has preferably a squared head I-I which lies within the depression G in the bottom rack and has one or more upstanding projections or lips H It is threaded at its upper end as at H to receive a correspondingly threaded holding and carrying handle I. This handle I is notched on its :bottom as at I and into these notches I the contact member of the latch F fits so as to prevent accidental rotation of the handle.

In the form shown in Figure are identical with those shown in the earlier figures except that instead of the grooves E on the inside of the racks I have provided 6 the racks grooves J on the outside of the racks. In this form of the device there is also provided a cover plate K which has fixed to it a handle K This handle may be rigid or may be hinged or folding.

Extending downwardly from the cover plate K is a rod L which lies in the grooves J. At its bottom it is joined to a member L which is preferably metallic and flat. Hinged to this member L is a rod L provided with a latch engaging upper end L. This latch L may be swung into the position shown in full lines in Figure 5, in which position it lies within the grooves J along the side of the pile of racks. Its upper end L is engaged by the spring latch L mounted on the cover plate Although I have shown an operative invention, still it will be obvious that many changes in size, shape, and arrangement of parts might be made without departing materially from the spirit of my invention; and I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

Particularly any means might be used for holding the racks from lateral spreading. The nails and depressions shown constitute merely one way of obtaining the de- 1 ferred method, any

ing, it is open in the position shown in a generally upright sired result. While I have shown two methods of holding together the racks in their closed position and while the method shown in Figures 1 to 4 constitutes the premeans which will hold the folded racks together in a group so that they form in effect a box-like container is within the contemplation of my invention, and I do not wish therefore to be limited to i the two specific methods shown.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

In the form shown 1n the first four fie"- ures when the device is to be used for playgenerally in Figure 4. In that position the men or pieces which are being used by the player and which he has drawn or otherwise acquired may be, for his convenience, displayed position in the open sided trough C. The counters or markers which he holds will be held in the box B in the closed sided trough. IVhen the device is to be put away the pieces are stacked in the compartment B. The sections of the rack are folded together as shown in Figures and 6 and the counters are put into the troughs C, which being folded together form an enlarged closed-sided trough. The holding member H is thrust upward through the holes in each of the rack sec tions made by the grooves E E. The cover plate F is fitted on and the handle is screwed down so as to draw the racks together and the cover plate down upon them. Each of the nail heads in either end of the racks fits into the depressions in the racks above and thus prevents separation of the ends. and the nails in the upper l''lCh' lit into the do prcssion in the cover plate so that separation of the parts all down the line pre vented.

In the form shown in Figures 5 and (l the racks are practically the same except ihui the holding means is outside inshnid o." in side. In that form the member If is sprungdown, the racks are slipped in one by one. and when they are all in position the hold ing member L is sprung upward in the position shown in full lines in Figure 5 and in that position holds the parts from separa tion.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to linclusive the upstanding projections on the head of the bolt fit into depressions in the bottom of the bottom rack and further prevent separation or spreading of the racks.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and storage receptacles each formed of a plurality o members associated together for lelaiiu movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and to be moved from said po sition to another relative positioiu to he retained in that other relative position. and while so retained, to form a storage receptacle to receive the pieces of the game whe not in play, and means for separably securing together said racks to form of themselves a box-like structure.

2. A5 av new article of manutzuzture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and stomge receptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and to be moved from said po sition to another relative position. to he re tained in that other relative position. and while so retained, to form a. storage rcwep tacle to receive the pieces o t the game when iot in play, and means for -;e1.-arabl v securing together said racks one on top of the other to form of themselves a box-like structure.

3. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in eombimition a plurality of combined playing and storage receptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in another relativ position to form a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and a cover plate adapted to cover one of said racks, andv means for separably securing together said racks.

l. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination. a plurality of combined playing and storage re ceptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in another relative position to form a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and a cover plate adapted to cover the uppermost of said racks, and means for separably securing together said racks one on top of the other.

5. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and storage receptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in another relative position to form a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and means for separably securing together said racks, said means com prising members adapted to exert tension upon said racks to draw them together.

5. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and storage receptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in another relative position to form a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and means for separably securing together said racks, said means including a member extending upwardly through said racks and adapted to engage one of them. at one of its ends and to pass through all of them, and to receive at its other end a locking member adapted to hold it in position with relation to said racks.

1' 7. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and storage receptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in another relative position to form. a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and means for separably securing together said racks, said means including a bolt provided with a flattened head having upturned projections adapted to engage one of said racks and provided at its other end with a threaded portion adapted to receive a threaded handle and acting with said handle to exert tension to draw the racks together.

8. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plu rality of combined playing and storage receptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative move ment, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in. another relative position to form a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and means for separately securing together said racks, and additional means for preventing relative movement of the parts of each rack.

9. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and storage receptacles each formed of a plurality of mem bers associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in another relative position to form a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and means for separably securing together said racks, and additional means for preventin relative movement of the parts of each race, said means including depressions and mating projections on each of said racks.

10. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and stor' age receptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in another relative position to form a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and a cover plate adapted to cover one of said racks, and means for separably securing together said racks, and ad ditional means for preventing relative move ment of the parts of each rack, said means including depressions and mating projections on each of said racks.

ll. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus con'iprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and storage receptacles each formed of a plurality of members associated together for relative movement, said members adapted when in one relative position to form a rack for use during play and when in another relative position to form a storage receptacle adapted to receive the pieces of the game when not in play, and means for separably securing together said racks, said means including a member extending vertically through said racks and provided at one end with a portion adapted to engage each section of the lower rack to hold them against relative movement and provided at its upper end with a portion adapted removably to engage a member and thereby to hold the racks to gether in combination with said member.

12. As a new article of manufacture a game apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combined playing and storage receptacles, each provided With a plurality of pockets, and being open on top, and means for separably securing together said members one on top of the other, to cover all but the upper member in combination with a cover plate adapted to cowl this nppermost member.

Signed at Chicago, count of Cook and State of Illinois, this sixth day of February,

LESLIE MONROE PARKER. 

